Which is why they've spent R&D and geared up for production of new or improved emulsions like Ektar 100, TMY-2, improved Portra films, etc in just the last two years. And those are the reasons that they continue to produce a large array of films that are still in demand, or even have minimal demand like Kodachrome. Thanks for clearing this up.

Lee

Well Kodak R&Ded Kodachrome 400, but that was never released. Also, Ektar 100 was not released in 120, although Kodak could use the same base as 135 format. Actually, I would prefer Kodak to keep a film the same after it is released, since I get used to it and know what to expect, and instead focus on new films like...like...umm...oh, like Ektar 100...and...ummm...yeah, Ektar 100.

I think Kodak is in it for the money, of course, but it is not that which bothers me (I am a Capitalist pig, myself), it is their attitude problem. Like when Kodak discontinues a unique film with a few weeks' warning before all existing stock is sold. I have a problem with that. Especially how they were saying that they were not going to discontinue Kodak HIE up until, BAM, the announcement that they had in autumn 2007. Fuji has no attitude problem...

Foma, Efke, AGFA-Gevaert, and FilmoTec have/had no attitude problems.

11-15-2008, 03:30 PM

Polybun

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Ghaffari

Well Kodak R&Ded Kodachrome 400, but that was never released. Also, Ektar 100 was not released in 120, although Kodak could use the same base as 135 format. Actually, I would prefer Kodak to keep a film the same after it is released, since I get used to it and know what to expect, and instead focus on new films like...like...umm...oh, like Ektar 100...and...ummm...yeah, Ektar 100.

I think Kodak is in it for the money, of course, but it is not that which bothers me (I am a Capitalist pig, myself), it is their attitude problem. Like when Kodak discontinues a unique film with a few weeks' warning before all existing stock is sold. I have a problem with that. Especially how they were saying that they were not going to discontinue Kodak HIE up until, BAM, the announcement that they had in autumn 2007. Fuji has no attitude problem...

Foma, Efke, AGFA-Gevaert, and FilmoTec have/had no attitude problems.

My point exactly. I don't think the engineers are to blame, its the people at top. They want digital, they want that cheap investment with big returns, to hell with the quality.

Fuji continue to blow my mind with the amount of new products and improvements they make every year. Every year its something new from them. To come along and make even a tenative commitment to picking up the slack where poloroid is leaving off, that really suprises me. Granted, Fuji were making a good portion of poloroids film stock for them anyway, but its still not something you see kodak doing is it!

11-15-2008, 04:25 PM

Lee L

Too truthy to refute.

Lee

11-15-2008, 04:31 PM

Photo Engineer

You guys have never had any experience in the real world of business, have you? :D

PE

11-15-2008, 04:37 PM

wogster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polybun

See, the mistake there is thinking kodak gives a flying fuck! Kodak doesn't care, Kodak hasn't cared about film in years. Hell they have been trying to get us to stop using kodachrome for the past 40 years! They have been trying to get us to stop using film for the past 10. If dwayne's burnt to the dirt, I don't think the heads of Kodak would lose any sleep at all.

I think that the biggest mistake management at Kodak ever did was, when they tried to shoot themselves in the foot over digital, and aimed at their head. They went from a business they owned to a business where they were the tiniest fish in the sea. The wonderful thing about Film, is that 90% of your business is consumables, and your customer is of the mindset that if it ain't broke don't fix it, you have it made. The horrible thing about digital from the manufacturers point of view, is that the only consumables are ink and paper, and 90% of your customers are going to walk into the store, and buy recycled ink cartridges, and the paper that's on sale that day, and usually that's at the discount business supply store.

The problem for Kodak is that outside the USA the world has moved on, most B&W artists are shooting Ilford or one of those Eastern European films, Fuji is still big in film production. For Kodak if they try to go back to film in a big way, it's going to be an uphill battle, but some of their new products like Ektar 100 mean they might be trying.

As far as Kodachrome is involved, you don't make emulsions in small batches, instead you make them in huge batches, what they probably do is brew up a batch of emulsion,
set up a coating machine, run off a couple of miles of the stuff, cut it into usable pieces and stick it in a deep freeze somewhere. You then set up the machine for another emulsion

When they need some, they thaw it out, slit some off and package it up. You also need packaging, which is not made in small batches either. So what do you do with a hunk of film a couple of miles long and 100' wide, when the only lab in the world that can process it, is just a pile of rubble?

11-15-2008, 05:09 PM

Lee L

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photo Engineer

You guys have never had any experience in the real world of business, have you? :D

I am a scientist who also dabbles in history and Classics. The extent of my business knowledge is how to write a grant proposal or order supplies from a catalog. There is no part of my brain reserved for the study of business. I make things and let the people who study business for 4 or 6 years make the decisions that make or break their company...I have enough stress. : )

As long as I get my funding, I am content to do my research.

-Alexander

11-15-2008, 05:56 PM

Fredrik Sandstrom

Quote:

Originally Posted by wogster

So what do you do with a hunk of film a couple of miles long and 100' wide, when the only lab in the world that can process it, is just a pile of rubble?

They'd set up another facility to process it. I didn't say it couldn't be done, or that they wouldn't do it. But it's not what has happened now! Iwagoshi's film was processed by Dwayne's, period.

11-15-2008, 06:33 PM

Photo Engineer

Alexander;

I have worked in industry, industrial R&D and academia on and off over the years but 32 years in industrial R&D. Things are not as simple as stated here and elsewhere on APUG, particularly where it comes to Kodak. Kodak today has more people on film R&D than Ilford has in their total company! But, when you make a mile of film and then only sell 1/2 mile of it within the expiration date, things get dicey when it comes to explaining that to the CEO.

Try getting funding for some research that keeps failing! Betcha things stop getting funded and eventually no one will talk to you.

Now, Fredrick, as for processing, Kodak has said that oney Dwaynes is now processing Kodachrome. I cannot personally verify this and have to rely on them myself, but they have said it and a rep has repeated this in a recent interview. What more can I say. I have to agree.

PE

11-15-2008, 06:34 PM

Iwagoshi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredrik Sandstrom

That's how they do it. Dwayne's are authorized to do "Kodak processing". Look at the bottom of the box. Does it not say "Kodak Licensed Product" and "Processed by Dwayne's Photo"?

Fredrik,

You are correct, I turned the box over and there it is in two languages, French and English, under the Kodak logo, "Processed by Dwayne's Photo..." Apologies for my initial rash assessment, I was merely hoping upon hope that the demise of Kodachrome was greatly exaggerated.

So it must be as Alexander has stated, Dwayne processes and packages under license and logo from Kodak when presented a Kodak pre-paid mailer.

PE, do you know what, if anything, is going on at the Kodak - Dallas Texas location?